from Array. Spring 2005

By the time my son was ready to move from his crib to a bed, I wasn't. The crib I'd bought was beautiful and expensive. Moreover, it was much easier not having to worry about him crawling around his room in th middle of the night without me there to supervise. I realized that sometimes we choose things for our children because they're more convenient for us or reflect our own personal preferences or cultural bias over the child's needs. But the way a child's room is designed can help learning and encourage a sense of selv-confidence and independence. Furniture, material and color selections can all be used as tools to empower young children and support their development. Several schools of thought on childrearing and education offer suggestions for maximizing the potential of a child's personal space...(cont'd)